Posts from: September 2011

We are just days away from our newest addition to our NPN School Fair Season! South Side Parents (SSP), Hyde Park Parent Support Network (PSN), and Neighborhood Parents Network (NPN) jointly present the South Side Preschool & Elementary School & Resoures Fair.

Join us for a one-day FREE event where you can make connections with more than 50 public/private schools, enrichment programs, family friendly businesses, and Chicago resources. Open to the public.

Tired of the same old thing? Encourage your little one to try something new this fall with one of these fun classes.

While planning my two toddlers’ fall schedules, I found myself craving some variety. I wanted to see what the city had to offer my little urban explorers. Not surprisingly, Chicago is bursting with unique and eclectic classes for our wee ones to enjoy. Below are some of the diverse options I came across.

When my children were younger and I was a stay at home mom, my husband worked long hours. Every morning, he would kiss the boys goodbye and lovingly say, “Be good for Mommy.” Then he was off, returning after bedtime. For him, his exit was helpful and thoughtful. For me, his words were like nails on a chalkboard. A million thoughts would run through my mind: “What did ’be good for Mommy’ mean?” “Wasn’t it unrealistic to think that little boys could be ’good’ all day?” “Was he telling th...

So you have done your research, talked to fellow moms, attended the NPN School fair and still feel panicked about pre-school? Or maybe just wondering what will get your baby/toddler school ready? Surprisingly, the best enrichment activity is something you do every day - conversation! Speaking to your child, asking questions, responding to their statements, and using varied vocabulary, all provide a rich foundation for early literacy skills. In fact, early, frequent verbal interaction is th...

NPN is proud to sponsor this year’s Circus in the Parks series. The Midnight Circus team is back to bring you a one-of-a-kind family-friendly circus experience! Money raised will go to support the Chicago Park District. We love our Chicago parks and these performances are guaranteed to thrill and entertain. The perfect way to spend a lovely day doing something surprising in a great Chicago neighborhood.

This year is an all new show and an all new little Big Top. An purple and blue tent wi...

NPN connects families in neighborhoods across Chicago. Get inspired to check out a new part of the city or discover something fabulous just around the corner. This stop: Ukranian Village with Sarah - All aboard! And then explore our other NPN Neighborhoods

We moved to Ukrainian Village a little over 2 years ago after living in Lincoln Park for many years. My husband and I wanted a neighborhood that was quiet and family friendly for our three kids, ages 5, 3 and 1. We certainly fou...

I attended the 1st committee meeting of the Longer School Day Community Advisory Committee (henceforth called the Better School Day Community Advisory Committee) and left feeling pretty optimistic.

So where does NPN come in… The role of the advisory committee is to review the plan throughout the school year and provide feedback to help inform the full rollout for 2012/13, inform our community and gather feedback, and help identify potential challenges and suggest possible solutions. So...

I’m not going to sugar-coat things – bedtime with my older daughter wasn’t easy! No matter how tired she appeared, I just couldn’t convince her that sleep was a necessary part of life. We finally figured out that spending a few minutes reading with the lights turned low could do wonders. One of our favorite pre-bedtime reads was the classic Good Night Moon. Now, I’m so excited to revisit our old bedtime tradition in a whole new way by taking her to see Good Night Moon the Musical presente...

School Fair season has arrived! Since the Oct. 15 School Fair is such an important event, we know there are many questions and anxieties. We are here to help you get ready!

The fair is set up in an expo with 120+ exhibitors. Attendees can walk around and talk with representatives from public and private preschool and elementary schools, non-profits, and businesses with activities and services that cater to little ones. The exhibitor list is still growing so check back for updates!
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New routines are happening everywhere, the days are shorter and cooler, and for many of our children, it’s back to school. So why not embrace a new ritual as you settle into Fall.

Cooking with friends and family is a great experience all through life. Why not create a new play date plan for Fall by initiating a weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly kitchen gathering for family and friends.